Bikaner State

Bikaner State was a princely state in the Rajputana from 1465 to 1947. The founder of the state, Rao Bika, was the eldest son of Rao Jodha, ruler of Jodhpur. Rao Bika chose to build his own kingdom instead of inheriting his father's. Bika defeated the Jat clans of Jangladesh along with his uncle Rao Kandhal and his adviser Vikramji Rajpurohit and founded his own kingdom. Its capital was the city of Bikaner in the northern area of present-day Rajasthan State in India. Karni Mata has been designated as the kuldevi of the Royal family of Bikaner.

This article is about the princely state during the British Raj. For the natural and historical region, see History of Bikaner.

State of Bikaner
बीकानेर रियासत
1465–1947
Flag of Bikaner State
Flag
Coat of arms of Bikaner State
Coat of arms
Motto: "Jai Jungaldhar Badshah"
Victory to the king of deserts
Bikaner State with Rajputana, in the Imperial Gazetteer of India (1909).
Bikaner State with Rajputana, in the Imperial Gazetteer of India (1909).
Official languagesRajasthani and Hindi
Religion
Hinduism (state religion)[1]
Demonym(s)Bikaner
History 
• Established
1465
1947
Area
• Total
60,391 km2 (23,317 sq mi)
Population
• 1931 estimate
936,218
Succeeded by
India
Today part ofRajasthan, India
Bikaner Laxmi Niwas Palace
Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner hunting elephants
Honorific insignia in gold offered to the Maharaja of Bikaner by the Mughal Emperor.
Raja Karan Singh of Bikaner, Aurangzeb's ally and enemy.
Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner with his son Sadul Singh in 1914.
Bikaner Camel Corps
Board of combat daggers at the Darbar Hall

The state was noted for the Bikaner style of painting.[2]

Covering an area of 60,391 km2 (23,317 sq mi), Bikaner State was the second largest state under the Rajputana Agency after Jodhpur State with a revenue of Rs.26,00,000 in 1901.[3] Heeding the 1947 call of Vallabhbhai Patel to integrate the princely states into the new independent India, Bikaner's last king, Maharaja Sadul Singh, advised by his dewan K. M. Panikkar, a respected historian, was one of the first rulers of a princely state to display willingness to join the Indian Union. By issuing a public appeal in April 1947 to his fellow princes to join the Constituent Assembly of India, the Maharaja of Bikaner set an example for other heads of the native states to follow.[4]

History
Main article: History of Bikaner

The state of Bikaner was founded in 1465. It became a British protectorate on 9 March 1818. They were accorded a 17 gun salute by the British authorities. By the time of Indian Independence, the territory of the state of Bikaner shared a border with Pakistan. The accession to the Indian Union was signed by the Maharaja on 7 August 1947.[5]

Rulers

The rulers were Rathor Rajputs. Related to the ruling family of Jodhpur.[6]

Rao/Raja's
  • 1465 – 1504 Rao Bika
  • 1504 – 1505 Rao Nar Singh (Naro)
  • 1505 – 1526 Rao Lunkaran
  • 1526 – 1542 Rao Jait Singh
  • 1542 – 1571 Rao Kalyan Mal (acknowledged the suzerainty of Emperor Akbar)
  • 1571 – 1612 Rao / Raja Rai Singh I (Important General in the Mughal army. Given title of Raja. From 1585 to 1594 he was employed in the Deccan by Emperor Akbar, where he was Subedar of Burhanpur)
  • 1612 – 1613 Raja Dalpat (Sur Singh revolted against his elder brother Dalpat and killed him along with his guards with the consent of Emperor Jahangir)
  • 1613 – 1631 Raja Sur Singh
  • 1631 – 1667 Raja Karan Singh(deposed by Aurangzeb and exiled to Karanapura in the Deccan)
  • 1667 – 1669 Interregnum

Maharaja's
  • 1669 – 1698 Maharaja Anup Singh (First to be granted title of Maharaja by Emperor Aurangzeb)
  • 19 Jun 1698 – 15 December 1700: Maharaja Sarup Singh (b. 1689 – d. 1700)
  • 15 Dec 1700 – 16 December 1735: Maharaja Sujan Singh (b. 1690 – d. 1735)
  • 16 Dec 1735 – 15 May 1746: Maharaja Zorawar Singh (b. 1713 – d. 1746)
  • 15 May 1746 – 25 March 1787: Maharaja Gaj Singh (b. 1723 – d. 1787)
  • 25 Mar 1787 – 25 April 1787: Maharaja Raj Singh II (b. 1744 – d. 1787)
  • 25 Apr 1787 – 9 October 1787: Maharaja Pratap Singh (b. 1781 – d. 1787)
  • 25 Apr 1787 – 25 March 1828: Maharaja Surat Singh (Regent to 9 October 1787) (b. 1766 – d. 1828)
  • 25 Mar 1828 – 7 August 1851: Maharaja Ratan Singh (b. 1790 – d. 1851)
  • 7 August 1851 – 16 May 1872: Maharaja Sardar Sungh (b. 1818 – d. 1872)
  • 16 May 1872 – 19 August 1887: Maharaja Dungar Singh (b. 1854 – d. 1887)
  • 19 Aug 1887 – 2 February 1943: Maharaja Ganga Singh (b. 1880 – d. 1943) (from 24 July 1901, Sir Ganga Singh)
  • 19 Aug 1887 – 16 December 1898: the British Political Agents-Regent
  • 2 February 1943 – 15 August 1950: Maharaja Sadul Singh (b. 1902 – d. 1950) (from 1 January 1946, Sir Sadul Singh)

Titular Rulers
  • 1950 – 1971 Maharaja Karni Singh (Privy purses were withdrawn in 1971 and post & titles were also withdrawn)
  • 1988-2003 Maharajah Narendra Singh Bahadur
  • 2003-2022 Maharajah Raviraj Singh Bahadur
  • 2022-present Vacancy

Dewans

The Dewans and Chief Ministers of the state were:

  • 1460–1465 Bothra Bachhraj (Mantri-Dewan / Jodhpur) / Rao Jodha
  • 1465–1505 Bothra Bachhraj (Founding Dewan / Bikaner) / Rao Bika
  • 1504–1526 Karam Singh Bothra Bachhawat (Descendants of Bachhraj were known as Bachhawats) / Rao Nar Singh and Rao Lunkaran
  • 1526–1535 Var Singh Bothra Bachhawat / Rao Jait Singh
  • 1535–1542 Nagraj Bothra Bachhawat / Rao Jait Singh and Rao Kalyan Mal
  • 1542–1571 Sangram Singh Bothra Bachhawat / Rao Kalyan Mal
  • 1571–1591 Mehta Karam Chand bothra Bachhawat (Title of Mehta granted by Emperor Akbar) / Rao Kalyan Mal and Raja Rai Singh
  • 1619–1620 Mehta Bhag Chand Bothra Bachhawat / Raja Sur Singh
  • 1619–1620 Mehta Lakshmi Chand Bothra Bachhawat / Raja Sur Singh
  • 17.. – 26 February 1733: Anand Ram Khawas (d. 1733)
  • 1735 – Feb 1751: Mohata Bakhtawar Singh (1st time) (b. 1707 – d. 1779)
  • Feb 1751 – 1752: Amar Singh Chaturbhujani
  • 1752 – 1756: Mohata Bakhtawar Singh (2nd time) (s.a.)
  • 1756 – Dec 1757: Mohata Prithvi Singh
  • 1757 – 1762: Mohata Bakhtawar Singh (3rd time) (s.a.)
  • 1762 – Sep 1765: Shah Mool Chand Bardiya
  • Sep 1765 – 1779: Mohata Bakhtawar Singh (4th time) (s.a.)
  • 1779 – 178.: Mohata Swaroop Singh
  • 178. – 1787: Mohata Thakursi
  • 1787 – 1791: Mohata Madho Rai
  • 1791 – 1794: Pratap Mal Baid
  • 1794 – 1805: Mohata Rao Sahib Singh Gun Roop
  • Apr 1805 – Apr 1815: Amar Chand Surana
  • Apr 1815 – Feb 1816: Mohata Bhom ji
  • Feb 1816 – 1828: Abhai Singh Mohta
  • 1828 – 184.: Hindu Mal Baid
  • c. 1841: Sri Narayan Singh Bhati
  • 1844 – 1852?: Sarana Shri Lakshmichand
  • 1852 – 1853: Guman Singh Baid (1st time)
  • 1853 – 1853: Leeladhar Mohata + Jalam Chand Kochar
  • 1853 – 1854: Lachhi Ram Rakhecha
  • 1854 – 1856: Guman Singh Baid (2nd time)
  • 1856: Pandit Dojainant
  • 1856 – 1863: Ram Lal Dwarkani (1st time)
  • 1864 – 1865: Guman Singh Baid (3rd time)
  • 1865 – 1866: Ram Lal Dwarkani (2nd time)
  • 1866: Man Mal Rakhecha
  • 1866 (3 months): Sheo Lal Nahata
  • 1867 (15 days): Fateh Chand Surana
  • 1867: Ganga Ram Purohit
  • 1867: Shah Mal Kochar
  • 1868: Man Mal Rakhecha
  • 1868: Sheo Lal Mohata
  • 1868: Lakshmi Chand Nahata
  • Jun 1868 – Aug 1869: Visayat Hussain
  • Aug 1869 – 13 December 1873: Pandit Manphool
  • Dec 1873 – 188.: Maharaj Lal Singh
  • 188. – 1884?: Maharao Hari Singh Baid
  • 1884 – 11 October 1888: Amin Muhammad
  • 12 Dec 1888 – 1896: Sodhi Hukam Singh
  • 1896 – 1898: Raghubar Singh Chauhan
  • 1898 – 1903: Hamidu Zafar Khan
  • 1903 – 1916: Post abolished

Chief ministers
  • 1916 – 19..: Shri Bhairon Singh
  • 7 September 1920 – Jan 1925: Prince Kunwar Sardul Singh (s.a.)

Dewans

The post of Dewan was reinstated in 1927.

  • 1927 – 1934: Manubhai Nandshankar Mehta (b. 1868 – d. 1946)
  • 3 October 1932 – 31 October 1934: Ram Prasad Dube (acting)
  • 1 November 1934 – Jan 1936: Maharaj Shri Bhairun Singh
  • Jan 1936 – Dec 1936: Thakur Sadul Singh
  • Dec 1936 – 1938?: V.N. Mehta
  • Dec 1938 – Jul 1939: Kailash Narain Haksar (b. 1878 – d. 1954)
  • Jul 1939 – 1944?: Sire Mal Bapna (b. 1882 – d. 1964)
  • 1944 – 13 March 1948: Kavalam Madhava Panikkar (b. 1895 – d. 1963)
  • 14 March 1948 – Oct 1948: Kanwar Jaswant Singh
  • Oct 1948 – 30 March 1949: C. S. Venkatachar (b. 1899 – d. 1999)

Family tree of the rulers of Bikaner
  • I. Rao Bikaji, of Bikaner (1438–1504; Rai: 1488; r. 1465–1504)
    • II.Rao Naroji, of Bikaner (1468–1505; r. 1504–1505)
    • III.Rao Lunkaraji, of Bikaner (1470–1526; r. 1505–1526)
      • IV. Rao Jetaji, of Bikaner (1489–1542; r. 1526–1542)
        • V.Rao Kalyan Mal, of Bikaner (1519–1574; r. 1542–1574)
          • VI. Rai Singh I, Raja of Bikaner (1541–1612; r. 1574–1612)
            • VII. Dalpat Singh, Rai of Bikaner (1565–1613; r. 1612–1613)
            • VIII. Sur Singh, Raja of Bikaner (1594–1631; r. 1613–1631)
              • IX. Karan Singh, Raja of Bikaner (1616–1669; r. 1631–1667)
                • X. Anup Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1638–1698; r. 1667–1698; Rao: 1667; Maharaja: 1675)
                  • XI. Sarup Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1689–1700; r. 1698–1700)
                  • XII. Sujjan Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1690–1735; r. 1700–1735)
                    • XIII. Zorawar Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1713–1746; r. 1735–1746)
                  • Anand Singh
                    • XIV. Gaj Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1723–1787; r. 1746–1787)
                      • XV. Raj Singh II, Maharaja of Bikaner (1744–1787; r. 1787)
                        • XVI. Pratap Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1781–1787; r. 1787)
                      • XVII. Surat Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1765–1828; r. 1787–1828)
                        • XVIII. Ratan Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1790–1851; r. 1828–1851)
                          • XIX. Sardar Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1818–1872; r. 1851–1872)
                      • Chhatar Singh (1762–1779)
                        • Dalel Singh
                          • Sagat Singh
                            • Lall Singh (1831–1887)
                              • XX. Dungar Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1854–1887; r. 1872–1887)
                              • XXI. Ganga Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE, KCB (1880–1943; r. 1887–1943)
                                • XXII. Sadul Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner GCSI, GCIE, CVO (1902–1950; r. 1943–1949; titular ruler: 1949–1950)
                                  • XXIII. Karni Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1924–1988; titular Maharaja: 1950–1971; family head: 1971–1988)
                                    • XXIV. Narendra Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1946–2003; family head: 1988–2003)
                                  • Amar Singh (1925-2007)
                                    • Chandra Shekhar Singh (b. 1948)
                                      • XXV. Ravi Raj Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1977-2022; family head: 2003–2022)

[7]

See also
Bikaner within Rajputana, and main South Asian polities circa 1525 CE, on the eve of the establishment of the Mughal Empire.[8][9]

References
  1. "Bikaner State, Part I, Vol-I, Rajasthan - Linguistic Survey Of India" (PDF). LSOI. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  2. Harle, J. C., The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, 2nd edn. 1994, Yale University Press. (Pelican History of Art). ISBN 0300062176.
  3. "Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 8, page 214 -- Imperial Gazetteer of India -- Digital South Asia Library".
  4. Ramachandra Guha, India after Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy. HarperCollins, 2007.
  5. William Barton, The princes of India. Delhi 1983
  6. "Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 8, page 204 -- Imperial Gazetteer of India -- Digital South Asia Library".
  7. "Raviraj Singh Bhati's Health Deteriorated In Jaipur In The Morning, Breathed His Last In SMS Hospital, Last Rites In Bikaner Tomorrow". Dainik Bhaskar. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  8. Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 39, 147. ISBN 0226742210.
  9. "Historical Atlas of India" by Charles Joppen (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1907)

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bikanir". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

  • Media related to Bikaner State at Wikimedia Commons
  • Beny, Roland; Matheson, Sylvia A. (1984). Rajasthan – Land of Kings. London: Frederick Muller. p. 200 pages. ISBN 0-584-95061-6.
  • Crump, Vivien; Toh, Irene (1996). Rajasthan (hardback). London: Everyman Guides. p. 400 pages. ISBN 1-85715-887-3.
  • Martinelli, Antonio; Michell, George (2005). The Palaces of Rajasthan. London: Frances Lincoln. p. 271 pages. ISBN 978-0-7112-2505-3.
  • Tod, James. Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Volume II (With a Preface by Douglas Sladen). Oriental Books Reprint Corporation. 54, Jhansi Road, New Delhi-1100055.

28.01°N 73.3°E / 28.01; 73.3

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